When we tell Mary’s part in the Christmas story it’s easy to idealize her. It’s as if she had such great faith in the word of the Lord, even as a young woman, that all she needed was God. It was Mary and God, alone in a world of people who scorned her — even…
Christmas isn’t all happy. Trying to make it that way actually diminishes our enjoyment and meaning of this sacred season. Consider the first Christmas. The backdrop is that God’s people go four centuries without hearing a word from God. When God finally speaks, Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) refuses to believe it and is struck…
To become like Jesus we need to befriend his emotions. It’s important to appreciate that Jesus is a feeler who experiences and expresses deep and vivid emotions about many things in life. Jesus is a feeler? You may disagree with us. Most Christian leaders today seem to. Early in my (Bill) life and ministry, I…
As a mother, I connect with Mary and the emotional ups and downs she experienced in caring for her child Jesus. To prepare for Advent I meditated on Mary’s story recently in my women’s small group. My friend Nancy shared the fruit of her meditation on Mary being “highly favored” by God (Luke 1:28). This…
Of all the virtues, gratitude is queen! Giving thanks to God is the most lovely virtue and it’s the mother of all that is good. That’s because “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17) and appreciating this is the way we participate in God’s blessings for us and others. Gratitude Research shows…
In the Bible, Paul says of his pastoral ministry, “I magnify my office” (Rom. 11:13, KJV). Pastor, do you magnify your office? Paul’s example and instruction is not just for professional church pastors — though it’s especially for them! — it’s for all of Christ’s ambassadors. So let me re-ask the question: Bible teacher, small…
Yes, according to Jesus! He blesses you and calls you into ministry: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). We may think being salt and light means preaching sermons or trying to convert people to our faith. Actually, it’s more like what we call “Soul Shepherding.”…
My hope in this article is to show the Biblical support for women to serve as pastors, elders, and other church or ministry leaders (whether professional or lay) and that qualified women will be given more opportunities for Christian leadership.
What do you feel after you put yourself out there to minister to others? Many people struggle with self-doubt or self-criticism. Pastors may wonder if they preached a good sermon. Small group leaders may question their effectiveness. Counselors and caregivers feel might feel unsure they said the right thing. Anyone who serves others is likely…
“My life is being poured out like a drink offering for you,” Paul wrote to a church he planted (Philippians 2:17, paraphrased). You know this feeling of emptying yourself if you minister to other people. I got a letter from Joe Chambers who pastors in Colorado. He’s been part of our Soul Shepherding community for…